ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, Feb. 09 (PIA) --- Civil Society Organizations (CSO) in the two Lanao provinces together with the men and women of the 601st Brigade, Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police gathered yesterday evening and joined the rest of the nation in lighting candles for peace.
The candle lighting event held at the 601st Brigade headquarters in Barangay Maria Cristina, this city, is in response to the call of President Benigno Aquino III to the public to join the ‘Light Up for Peace’ event as part of the run up for the upcoming resumption of peace negotiation with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Colonel Leo Cresente Ferrer, commanding officer of the 601st Brigade, said their participation to the event showed their commitment to the attainment of just and lasting peace in Mindanao.
He also hopes that everything will turn-out right with the government and the MILF citing that the resumption of the peace talks is an opportunity to put an end to the decades-long Mindanao conflict.
Filled with the spirit of joy and peace, Pakigdait Inc. Director Musa Mohamad Sanguila expressed appreciation to the 601st troopers for giving the CSOs an opportunity to celebrate the event with them.
He said their prayers for the resumption of the peace negotiations have been heard.
Sanguila also stressed that it is better for both the GRP and the MILF to sit down and find ways to achieve comprehensive and lasting peace in Mindanao without the use of arms.
Prior to the candle-lighting ceremony, Pakigdait Inc. and the 601st Brigade in collaboration with the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) commenced the three-day Culture of Peace Workshop for Civil Military Officers.
Sanguila said the culture of peace workshop will serve as an eye opener to understand how the different people in Mindanao can better relate with each other.
The workshop which will culminate on Thursday, Feb. 10, aims to foster unity in diversity among the participants through mutual acceptance, to provide an opportunity for the participants to become peace builders and to encourage them to be more responsive and sensitive in dealing with the cross-cultural and varied ethno-religious nature of the community, he added. (Apipa Bagumbaran/PIA Marawi)
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